Danville

Ephraim McDowell Health has invested $200,000 in a new medication verification system to enhance patient safety at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center and Ephraim McDowell Fort Logan Hospital. With the Bedside Medication Verification system, nursing staff use a hand-held scanner to scan a bar code on the patient’s identification bracelet and then scan the medications prescribed for the patient. The technology will confirm the safe administration of the medication by verifying the right patient, right medication, right dosage, right route and right time. The new technology also crosschecks for allergies and possible drug or food interactions. According to information released by Ephraim McDowell Health, fewer than 20 percent of hospitals nationwide provide bedside medication verification systems.